Golf club



' p 1941 w. F. REACH 2,257,575

GOLFCLUB Filed July 51, 1939 INVENTOR Willwm FReach ATTORNEY a Patented Sept. 30, 1941 GOLF CLUB William F. Reach, Springfield, Mass., assignor to A. G. Spalding & Bros. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 31, 1939, Serial No. 287,655

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in golf clubs and more particularly to improvements in that type of golf club known generally as a wood and normally including a sole plate of metal fixed to the bottom of the club head.

There have been proposed heretofore many expedients for more effectively maintaining the sole plate in position on the bottom of the club head. One of the conventional, or most generally accepted and used proposals consisted of a onepiece sole plate. However, although a large number of these expedients have been accepted by the trade and embodied in commercial production on a large scale, they have been open to the very real objection of not compensating for natural shrinking or seasoning of the wood, and particularly did not allow for the shrinkage or swelling of the wood of the club head caused by climatic changes.

Because of the above factors even though a conventional one-piece sole plate initially be most securely fixed to the club head, as by screws in the usual manner, and carefully set or finished so that the front and rear edges of the sole plate are flush with the front and rear edges of the bottom face of the club head, it has been found in actual practice that without being used, as by merely permitting the golf club to remain in a warehouse, a store or in a golf bag, the wood of the club head will frequently swell to cause the edges of the sole plate to lie inwardly of the corresponding edgesof the bottom face of the main body of the club head, and also will frequently shrink to cause the edges of the sole plate to project outwardly beyond the corresponding edges of the main body of the club head.

Either of these conditions results not only in the rendering of the club head unsightly, which is particularly objectionable from the standpoint of the seller of new and unused clubs as Well as from the standpoint of the player, but also in the failure of the sole plate to be completelyeffective for the primary purpose of which it is intended. Thus, if the edges of the sole plate are inset from the corresponding edges of the bottom face the latter is not protected against wear at the most vulnerable places, and if the edges of the sole plate are outset from the corresponding edges of the bottom face there is likely to be interference with the proper execution of the golf stroke and a cutting of the golf ball.

Moreover, and in addition to the disadvantages above set forth, caused by the shrinkage and swelling of the wood with climatic changes, as changes in the temperature and particularly the moisture content of the air, it has been observed that with conventional one-piece sole plates not only are the usual sole plate securing screws distorted and loosened in the main body of the club head, but also that the wood of the head is subjected to weakening strains caused by the expansion and contraction of the wood head in contact with the metal sole plate.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a golf club head in which the sole plate is of such construction and is so associated with the main body of the club head, that the above enumerated disadvantages of a conventional one-piece sole plate are substantially overcome to thereby achieve a golf club head in which the sole plate will not only be initially held securely in position relative to the bottom face of the main body of the club head, but will be maintained securely in position even though the main body of the club head shrinks or swells.

It is another object of the invention to provi-de a golf club head of the wood type in which the strains set up in the main body due to the shrinkage and swelling thereof, are minimized.

In the attainment of these and other objects which will hereinafter appear, there is provided as a feature of the present invention a golf club head in which the sole plate is composed of a plurality of separate laterally disposed and related sections separately secured to the main body of the head.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a golf club head inwhich the sole plate includes a plurality of separate sections laterally spaced from each other intermediate the front and rear edges of the bottom face of the main body of the head, thus permitting the separately secured sections of the sole plate to move laterally toward and away from each other as the wood of the main body shrinks and swells to thereby relieve the distortion and substantially overcome the attendant loosening of the sole plate holding screws which results in the case of a conventional one-piece sole plate where all of the holding screws are held at fixed lateral distances from each other by the sole plate.

Another and related feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a golf club head in which the sole plate includes a plurality of separate laterally disposed and related sections separately secured to the main body of the head, and with at least one of said sections being so disposed that it is fully supported or confined at A feature of the invention resulting in the attainment of the above object, therefore resides in forming a chamber in the main body ofthe club head to provide a confining means for.

removable balancing weightswhic-h are. adjust;

able to shift the center of gravity of the club head.

to a selected position intermediate the toe and heel thereof, and in the provision of a sole plateincluding a plurality of separate sections separately secured to the main body, with one of the sections being so disposed as toform a closure for the weight confining chamber whereby access may be had to the chamber by removing only one section of the sole plate and without removing the entire sole plate.

Other and related features of the invention reside in the provision of holes in the balancing weights for receiving holding screws-by which the closure section is secured. to the main body of the club head, to thereby provide a means-for effectively holding the weights against. adverse Wabbling in the weight confining chamber, and in the supporting'of the holding screws'not only by the main body of the club'hea'd above the. chamber but also by the sole plate section itself below the chamber.

Other objects, features and. advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a bottom view of a. golf club head embodying one form of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the club head shown in Fig. 1, partially in section.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of weights utilized in controlling the balance of the club head.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a golf club head embodying, a modified form of the present invention.

Before describing the present improvements and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, which are merely illustrative of the presentipre ferred embodimentasince the inventionis cap-able of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description: and not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawing and first to Figs, 1 through 3 which illustrate the present preferred form of the invention there'is shown a golf club head I I of the wood type, having as is conventional a main body |2 of wood with a front or driving face l3. Also as is conventional the club head is formed with abottom face 14 having front and rear edges l5 and IB and with a hosel l1 extending upwardly from the heel l8 of the club head for connection With a shaft (not shown). 1

Of importance, however; there is associated with the bottom face M a novel sole plate l9 which instead of being formed of one integral metal strip, is formed of a plurality of separate sections comprising a front section 20,-a' rear section 2| and an intermediate section 22, each of which is separately secured to the main body. Preferably, and as shown, the front sectio 20 has a front edge 23 contiguous the front edge l5 of the bottom face, the rear section 2| has a rear edge 24 contiguous the rear edge l6 of the bottom face, and the intermediate section 22 has front and rear edges 25 and 26 which are laterally spaced from the rear and front edges 21 and 28 respectively of the front and rear sections.

Also, preferably and as shown there are formed vin the bottom face a plurality of recesses 29, 30

and 3| for respectively receiving and closely convfining the front, rear and intermediate sections .of the sole plate in such a way that the bottom faces of the sections are flush with the bottom face of the main body l2 of the club head and in such a way that ribs 29a and 30a of wood are provided for giving greater strength to the club head.

While it is preferred to utilize the specific contours of the several sections of the sole plate as illustrated, .especially the inwardly converging side edgerelationship of the front and rear sections 20 and 2|, it is to be understood that the contour of the sole plate as a whole or the contours of the separate sections thereof may be altered without departing from the broad concept of the present invention.

For separately securing the sections 20, 2| and 22 of the sole plate l9 to the main body l2, usual screws 32 may advantageously be utilized, but if desired other securing means such, for example, as nails, may be utilized.

With this construction, should the wood of the main body swell or shrink, each of the several sections 26, 2| and 22 may move laterally relative ill to eachother and with those portions of the main body to which they are secured. Thus not only is there a very substantial diminution in the tendency of the front and rear edges l5 and I6 of the bottom of the main body l2 to become offset outwardly from the corresponding edges of the sole plate when the main body swells and to become offset inwardly from the corresponding edges of the sole plate when the main body shrinks, but also the holding screws in the separate sections are permitted to move laterally relative to each other.

Because of-these factors the distortion of the holding screws, which occurs with a sole plate of the conventional one-piece type where heads and shanks of the screws are held at fixed lateral distances relative to each other, is minimized and the resultant adverse tendency of the sole plate holding screws to become loosened is likewise minimized. Also, because of these factors the strains that would otherwise be set up in the main body due to its swelling and shrinkage in contact with the metal sole plate are relieved.

Hence, with a golf club head embodying the present invention not only are the Outer edges 23 and 24 of the sole plate l9 effectively maintained in registry with the corresponding edges l5 and H3 of the bottom face of the main body of the club head, but the sole plate is mosteffectively and securely held tightly against the underside of the main body even though the latter swell and shrink.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the intermediate section 22 of the sole plate l9, which is confined and supported on all sides in the recess 3|, preferably serves not only as a wear resisting means, but also as a closure for a balancing weight-confining chamber 33 formed in the main body 12- and extendingupwardly from and'communicating with the bottom face l4 thereof through the recess 3|. Mounted within the chamber 33 is a weighting means 34, which as shown may comprise a plurality of weights 35, 36 and 31 disposed on a line extending between the heel and toe ends of the club head.

In the illustration given in Fig. 2, three weights 37, two weights 36 and one weight 35 are shown in the chamber. However, this illustration is given merely as an example and it will be readily understood that various combinations of weights may be utilized to shift the center of gravity of the club head to divers selected and desired points intermediate the toe and heel ends thereof and that if desired only one weight may be used.

Preferably and as shown the end weights 35 and 31 and the middle weights 36 are formed with interlocking surfaces to maintain the middle weight against turning in the chamber. However, this is not essential as the side walls 38 of the chamber 33 are made to very closely confine and snugly engage all of the weights so that the latter are firmly and securely held in place. The screws by which the intermediate section 22 of the sole plate is secured to the main body of the club head, as shown, may be and preferably are passed through conforming holes 39 in the end weights 35 and 31 to further secure the weighting means 34 in the chamber 33 and relative to the club head. If it is desired to change or readjust the balancing weights it is a simple matter to remove the one section 22 by merely loosening the screws by which it is held in place.

If desired instead of utilizing a sole plate I9 made up of three sections such as the one shown in Fig. 1, a sole plate made up of a different number of sections may be utilized, for example a sole plate 40 made up of two sections 4! and 42 such as shown in Fig. 4 may be embodied in a modified club head 43 which similarly to the club head ll includes a main body 44 having a bottom face 45 having front and rear edges 46 and 41 and formed with recesses 48 and 49 adapted to respectively receive front and rear sections 43 and 41 of the sole plate.

As shown the rear section 42 is identical with the rear section 2| of the sole plate l9, while the front section 4| is a combination of the front and intermediate sections 20 and 22 of the sole plate 19. A chamber 33 and weighting means 34 identical to those shown most completely in Fig. 2 may be embodied in the modified club head shown in Fig. 4. I

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A golf clubhead having a main body with a bottom face and a chamber for a weighting means extending upwardly from and communieating with said bottom face; a sole plate, said sole plate including a plurality of laterally spaced separate sections separately secured to said main body, two of said sections having portions respectively adjacent front and rear edges of the bottom face and one of said sections underlying and forming a closure for said chamber.

2. A golf club head having a main body with a bottom face and a chamber extending upwardly from and communicating with said bottom face; a plurality of removable club balancing weights disposed in said chamber and disposed laterally relative to each other On a line extending between the toe and heel ends of the main body; and a sole plate having a plurality of spaced sections, one of said sections underlying and forming a closure for said chamber, and two of said spaced sections being respectively adjacent the front and rear edges of the bottom face.

3. A golf club head having a main body with a bottom face and a chamber for club balance weighting means extending upwardly from and communicating with said bottom face; and a sole plate, said sole plate including a front and a rear section and an intermediate section spaced from said front and rear sections, said intermediate section underlying and forming a closure for said chamber,

4. A golf club head having a main body with a bottom face and a chamber having lateral walls extending upwardly from said bottom face; a plurality of Weights having lateral sides substantially entirely abutting said lateral walls; a sole plate having a plurality of spaced sections, one of saidsections underlying and forming a closure for said chamber; and securing means passing through said section, at least some of said weights, and into said main body.

5'. A golf clubhead having a main body with a bottom face having front and rear edges, said main body having a Weight receiving chamber extending upwardly from and communicating with said bottom face; a sole plate, said sole plate including a plurality of laterally spaced sections separately secured to said main body, two of said sections having portions respectively adjacent front and rear edges of the bottom face and one of said sections underlying and forming a closure for said chamber; and holding screws for said closure section, supported in the latter below said chamber and in said main body above said chamber.

6. A golf club head having a main body with a bottom face and a pair of spaced recesses respectively terminating adjacent the front and rear edges of the bottom face, and only one weight receiving chamber defined by lateral walls extending upward from and communicating with the central portion of said bottom face; a plurality of removable club balancing weights disposed in said chamber laterally relative to each other on a line extending between the toe and heel of the main body, substantially all of the lateral sides of said balancing weights being substantially contiguous the lateral walls of the chamber; two sole plate sections wholly spaced from each other and respectively confined by said recesses, one of said sections forming a closure for said chamber; and securing means passing through said closure section, at least some of said balancing weights, and into said main body for effectively holding said closure section to said bottom face.

'7. A golf club head having a main body with a bottom face having front and rear edges, said main body having a plurality of spaced noncircular recesses; a sole plate including a plurality of laterally disposed sections wholly spaced from each other and respectively located in and confined by said recesses, one of said sections covering the central portion of said bottom face, two of said sections having portions respectively adjacent front and rear edges of the bottom face; and a plurality of means for separately securing each of said sections to said main body.

WILLIAM F. REACH. 

